In that job, which he has had since 2001, he has focused on expanding and improving the university's research activities. In his application letter to UCF, Waldrop said his experiences meshed well with the Orlando university's goals.

Waldrop promised in his letter that he would bring "strong expertise, great enthusiasm and creative leadership to this role" and said "my experiences and personal goals are very consistent with the goals for the university."

Waldrop, chosen from 93 applicants, will take over as provost Aug. 1.

"The opportunity to help UCF continue to 'Reach for the Stars' as one of the nation's premier universities is very exciting," Waldrop said in a statement.

UCF said the provost is the second-highest job at the university, providing academic leadership to 12 colleges and several campuses, research centers and institutes. The provost's duties include overseeing academic planning and faculty promotion and tenure decisions.

Waldrop, a native of North Carolina, earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from UNC, where he was a college track star. As a senior in 1974, he set the indoor world record for a mile — a collegiate record that stood until 2009, according to Running Times Magazine.

Before his work at UNC, Waldrop was at University of Illinois for 14 years, starting as an assistant professor and leaving as vice chancellor for research.

"Dr. Waldrop's leadership at the University of North Carolina has been outstanding, and we are pleased to bring this innovative academic leader and researcher to UCF," UCF President John Hitt stated. "Tony will help us continue to offer an affordable, high-quality education to support a wide range of scholarship in the classic disciplines and emerging fields. He also will help us continue to support the economic, cultural, intellectual and societal needs of Central Florida."

The 41 students of the first class for the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine gathered on August 3, 2009. More than 900 people watched as the first students took part in a special "white coat ceremony," a tradition for first-year medical students. Every student in the...